An Unexpected Graciousness (12/22/2021)

Last evening, I was at a local truck stop, visiting with a young woman over dinner. We were having a great conversation and a wonderful meal. The wait person came to the table when were almost done with our dinner and said, “Just so you know, the gentleman that was seated at the counter behind you paid for your dinners.” We immediately turned to look, but she added, “Oh, he’s gone. Kind people like that usually want to be anonymous.”

That has never, never in my 71 years, happened to me. I couldn’t believe it. I asked her if she was sure. The man’s kindness and graciousness are still on my mind. I’ve no idea why I was given such a gift. As I sit with this, I realize that while I was the beneficiary, this isn’t about me, it’s about one who selflessly gave to another. And the seed is planted.

In this season where we focus on Christ’s coming into the world as a gift to us all, we see that we are the beneficiaries, but it really isn’t about us. It’s about the one who selflessly gave his whole self to others. This demands celebration; it demands remembrance. But it also demands that we change, that we take this gift from Christ and we allow it to change us, we allow his love for us to conform us to himself and to transform us into his disciples, his brothers and sisters.

As I sit and continue to think of the anonymous gentleman who bought our dinners, I highly suspect he not only knows about the Jesus of Christmas but he knows Christ and works on his relationship with the LORD by the way he loves others. And today I find myself wanting to do better at that, too; I find myself wanting to work even harder on my relationship with Christ through the way I love others.

LORD, thank you for this gentleman. Thank You for his kindness that I am sure flows from his love for You. Send your Spirit to thank him for me. And send your Spirit to help me grow in my relationship with others out of love of You. Let this man’s graciousness and example bear fruit. Amen.

Until tomorrow, love well.